Cordina played in the same cup final in 2003 for Cardiff Schools and sees it as a stepping stone for his career.
“It was great to be at Principality Stadium and I still have very fond memories of my rugby days. I was a scrum half and always wanted to be like Rob Howley,” said Cordina.
“I finished and took up boxing at 16 and the rest is history. I just hope these youngsters carry on their sporting careers and get out of it what I have.”
Pontypridd Schools took home the DC Thomas Cup beating Islwyn Schools 30-20. Earlier in the day, Neath Schools scored a last-gasp winner to beat Pembrokeshire Schools four tries to three to lift the U11 DC Thomas Bowl.
Elsewhere, Bridgend Schools beat Cardiff Schools five tries to one to win the U11 DC Thomas Plate.
U11 DC Thomas Bowl Final: Neath 20-15 Pembrokeshire
A Jackson Evans try in the final minute sealed glory for Neath School as they beat Pembrokeshire Schools four tries to three in a thrilling DC Thomas Bowl Final at Principality Stadium.
Scores from Jacob Williams, Osian Morgan, Jenson Williams and Jackson Williams were enough for Neath, who had to come from behind after Iori Williams, Billy Lamb and Leo Werner had put Pembrokeshire ahead.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY . . . Neath Schools head coach Craig Fulford-Astley
“Wow. It was an unbelievable game and there was no deserved winner really. The game was really tight but I am super proud of the boys. We have year five and six children in there so it is a real mix. We’ve had a tough season but we are very proud of what the boys have achieved here today and what a try it was to win it at the end.”
Neath enjoyed the better first half, scoring first as Jacob Williams sped down the left wing to score in the corner. Pembrokeshire then clawed their way back into contention to equalise as the ball was popped up for Iori Williams and he bundled over the line. However, it was Neath who took a narrow lead into the interval as Osain Morgan crashed his way through the defensive line to touch down.
Pembrokeshire immediately equalised at the start of the second half with a fantastic Billy Lamb solo score. This was added to as Leo Werner showed skill and composure to burst past the entire Neath defence to give his side the lead for the first time in the game.
Neath found a way back into the game as Tomos Morgan completed a beautiful offload to Jenson Evans to score and level the game once more. The drama was not over yet, Neath vice-captain Jackson Evans scored in the last minute to seal victory for his side.
The victorious Neath Schools team
DC Thomas Bowl Final Teams
Neath Schools: Osian Morgan (YGG Castell Nedd), Zak George (Blaenhonddan Primary), Jenson Evans (Abbey Primary), Tomos Morgan (Cilffriw Primary), Jackson Evans (Maesmarchog Primary), Bobby Bramwell (Crynallt Primary), Isaac Parfitt (captain, YGG Blaendulais), Jacob Williams (Cilffriw Primary), Harrison Jones (Abbey Primary), Jack Thomas (YGG Castell Nedd), Mya Richards (Cilffriw Primary), Ioan James (YGG Castell Nedd), Olly Steinmann (Carreg Hir Primary), Cora Potter (Maesmarchog Primary), Harrison Morgan (YGG Castell Nedd), Luca Topper (Bryncoch CIW Primary), Charlie Evans (Coedffranc Primary), Flynn Roberts (YGG Castell Nedd)
Pembrokeshire Schools: Jamie Cook (Pembroke Dock Community School), Iwan Wright (Saundersfoot CP), Iori Williams (Ysgol Arberth), Billy Lamb (Croescgoch CP), Jevan Guymer (captain, Tenby Primary School), Karter Williams (Neyland Community CP), Mesake Catalina (Neyland Community CP), Cody Culshaw (Penrhyn VC), Harri Underwood (Cleddau Reach School), Toby Jones (Holy Name RC), Tomos Nicholas (Brynconnin CP), Ollie Harper (Roch CP), Leo Werner (Saundersfoot CP), Will Haines (Templeton CP), Ethan Brace (Tenby VC), Tyler Ayres (Penrhyn VC)
U11 DC Thomas Plate Final: Cardiff Schools 5-25 Bridgend Schools
Bridgend Schools beat Cardiff Schools by five tries to one as they lifted the DC Thomas Plate Final in the Cardiff sun in front of a vocal crowd.
A double from Lewis Watkins was added to by Charlie Tune and a penalty try was enough for Bridgend at Principality Stadium. Ellistan Czekaj, son of former Wales international Chris, scored for Cardiff.
A nervy start saw few opportunities for either side to score. Bridgend enjoyed more possession but were held off by a rigid Cardiff defence. It took 15 minutes for the first score; Charlie Tune crossing for Bridgend in the corner to give his side a slender advantage into the break.
The second half burst into life immediately as Jacob Dicomidis intercepted on the half way line and his offload was brilliantly collected by Lewis Watkins who sprinted to score. Cardiff responded straight away to score through Ellistan Czekaj, but it turned out to be a mere consolation in the game.
Bridgend went on to double their lead as Alfie Davies put in a high tackle on Niall Hayes leaving the referee no choice but to award a penalty try as Hayes was clear through.
Watkins added his second try to make the scoreline more comfortable for Bridgend as they stretched the Cardiff defence. They added a fifth at the death through Harri Williams.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY… Bridgend Schools head coach Micky Dixon
“It was good that the children trusted themselves to go and play and to trust their skills on the big occasion is quite something. Our squad of 32 have been together all year and this just caps it all off. They scored some lovely tries and it all worked out well in the end.“It’s nice to show some character when Cardiff got back into the game and then us having to defend. To bounce back and score some nice tries is fantastic for the children. It was a great day. There were a lot more supporters here than I thought there would be today. Our whole squad is thankful for them.”
Bridgend Schools captain Jacob Dicomidis lifts the trophy aloft
DC Thomas Plate Final Teams
Cardiff Schools: Alfie Davies (Llanishen Fach Primary); Olly Place (Rhiwbina Primary), Harry Morgan (Bryn Deri Primary), Rhys Howard (Ysgol Y Wern), Donny Walton (St Mellons CIW); Riley O’Neill (St Mellons CIW), Harri Rees (Melyn Gruffydd); Jac Witchell (captain, Ysgol Y Wern), Ashton Roberts (Ysgol Bro Eirwg), Finlay Malpas (Birchgrove Primary), Lyle Lewis (Ysgil Pen y Pil), Dai Wicks (Melyn Gryffydd), Archie Shackell (Ysgol Y Wern), Finley French (Llandaff City Primary), Jonty Callaghan (Christ the King), Ellistan Czekaj (Ysgol Gymraeg Pen-Y-Groes)
Bridgend Schools: Jacob Dicomidis (Coety PS, captain), Devan Edwards (Pil PS), Dion Williams (Oldcastle PS), Harry Davies (Mynydd Cynfig PS), Oscar Davies (Penyfai PS), Harris Jones (Bro Ogwr), Callum Brown (Trelales PS), Lewis Watkins (Pencoed PS), Ollie Bayliss (Penyfai PS, Max Fuller (Penyfai PS), Charlie Tune (Trelales PS), Niall Hayes (Ffaldau PS)
Subs: Frankie Llewllyn (Penyfai PS), Rhod Griffiths-Jones (Bryncethin), Oliver Thomas (Cefn Cribwr PS), Harri Williams (Bro Ogwr)
DC Thomas Cup Final: Pontypridd Schools 30-20 Islwyn Schools
Pontypridd Schools prevailed with a six try to four victory over Islwyn Schools to win the DC Thomas Cup at Principality Stadium.
Liam Jones scored twice to add to the hat-trick he scored on Monday for Pontyclun Primary School, while Teigh Onyeka also got two tries, with Kalum Wingfield and Max Thomas making up Pontypridd’s scorers. Gracie Coles, Alfie Jones, Theo Williams and a penalty try responded for Islwyn.
Pontypridd showed their class and skill to race into a four try lead early in the first half. Their first was scored by Max Thomas who benefitted from a quickly taken penalty to stretch the defence and score in the corner.
This was doubled by Kalum Wingfield who broke his first tackle to charge through and score. Then, Liam Jones stepped up to score to add to the hat-trick he scored for Pontyclun Primary at Principality Stadium in the John Rees Cup on Monday.
A fourth try was added by Teigh Onyeka who used his power to bundle over the line. Islwyn managed to get on the scoreboard with a penalty try, but Pontypridd were able to score a fifth just before the interval through Jones again who weaved his way through five defenders to cross the whitewash.
Islwyn started the second half stronger and were able to cut the deficit down to three tries as Gracie Coles scored after a well-worked build up. Pontypridd were able to restore their four try advantage as Onyeka brilliantly charged from inside his own half to out-pace the Islwyn defence and score.
However, Islwyn responded immediately with a break away try that was finished off by Alfie Jones. They were able to add a fourth try in the last play of the game as Theo Williams crossed the line but Pontypridd hung on for victory.
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY . . . Pontypridd Schools coach Ceri Griffiths
“I’ve been doing this for 12 years now and it has been a long time coming. They fully deserve it as we’ve played excellently all season. Defensively they’ve been solid all season and was pleasing to see that again especially as Islwyn got back into it a little bit.“Liam Jones scored two today to add what he did on Monday. We nickname him ‘speedy gonzalez’ as when he gets the ball, he’s gone. He is a fantastic player.”
WHAT THEY HAD TO SAY . . . Islwyn coach Simon Veall
“We were a bit nervous coming out in the first half but I’m happy with the way the squad rallied and came back into it. I said to them after playing here last week to just enjoy the occasion. Not many people get to play on this pitch so what a day it is for them to be able to play here.”
The Ponty party begins after winning the DC Thomas Cup
DC Thomas Cup Final Teams
Pontypridd Schools: Teigh Onyeka (Tonysguboriau PS), Liam Jones (Pontyclun PS), Elis Roberts (Dolau PS), Lucas Waters (Pontyclun PS), Sonny Wheeler (Pontyclun PS), Taylor Theaker (Pontyclun PS), Reeve Tucker (Pontyclun PS), Kalum Wingfield (Dolau PS), Alfie Chard (Tonysguboriau PS), Harry Matthews (YGG Pontsion Norton), Ruan Dyer (Pontyclun PS), Max Thomas (Maes-y-Bryn PS), Hudson Bowen (Pontyclun PS), Emie George (Gwauncelyn PS), Archie Theaker (Pontyclun PS), Charlie Norcup (YGG Garth Olwg)
Islwyn Schools: Gracie Coles (Libanus PS), Mason Lloyd (Swffryd PS, captain), Corey Dobbins (Swffryd PS), Mason Boulton (Rhiw Syr Dafydd PS), Ioan Stonelake (Rhiw Syr Dafydd PS), Rocky Morgan (Rhiw Syr Dafydd PS), Alfie Jones (Ysgol Cwm Derwen), Tyler-George Dobbins (Ysgol Cwn Gwyddon), Noah Parsons (Ysgol Cwm Gwyddon), Theo Williams (Bryn PS), Aston Cousins (Tynewydd PS), George Watkins (Ysgol Cwm Derwen), Hari Miles (Pontllanfraith PS), Danny Pritchard (Rhiw Syr Dafydd PS), William Orford (Ysgol Cwm Gwyddon), Casey Fox (Bryn PS)
